Electric regulation



May 29, 1928. 1,671,145

, J. L. CREVELING ELEC'IR IC REGULATIO N Original Filed April 8, 1917 1 N VEN TOR.

Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LI CBEVELING, OF TUCSON, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

' GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

Application filed April 8, 1917, Serial No. 159,577. Renewed April-17, 1923.

My invention pertains to that class of electric regulation wherein a source of electromotive-force or electrical potential difierence such, for example, as a dynamo-electric machine is to be regulated in a predetermined manner, and has for a particular object to provide means whereby such source as, for example, a dynamo will be automatically regulated and have its circuit connections properly controlled.

As my invention is particularly applicable to systems wherein a dynamo operating as a generator is driven at variable and intermittent speeds and is used tocharge a storage battery and operate lamps or other translating devices in conjunction therewith as is now common practice in railway car lighting systems, it will be described with reference to such a system. i

The drawing is a diagrammatic representation of a system of this character chosen to illustrate one embodiment of my inven tion.

In the drawing, 1 represents a dynamo or generator, in this instance portrayed as a plain shunt machine, provided with the usual field coil 2, having in series therewith a suitable regulating instrumentality indicated, for example, in the form of a carbon pile 3. And it will therefore be obvious that the dynamo may be regulated by properly manipulating the pressure upon the carbon pile 3. One end of the said pile'rests against an abutting member 4 which may be adjustable, if desired; while the other end of the pile may be compressed by means of the short arm 5 of a bell-crank lever having a long arm 6 and pivoted as indicated at 7. 8 is an adjustable weight carried upon the arm 6, which may be used to adjust the pressure upon the ile 3 and the operation of the parts affecting the same. 9 is a dashpot operatively connected with the extremity of the lever '6 to prevent too sudden motion being impartedthereto. 10 is an adjustable stop for limiting the downward movement of the lever 6, in case the same be not properly limited by the pile. 11 is a rod, preferably of brass or other non-magnetic material, pivotally connected to the lever 6, as indicated at 12, and provided with a threaded portion 13 carrying the threaded sleeve 14, preferably of non-magnetic material, attached to the core 15, of iron or other magnetic material, and held in desired position The member 19 is provided with guides 23,

fitting loosely in slip-holes in the magnethead 24, which may be held in place as by the screws engaging the bosses 25, the said guides 23 being headed at their upper extremities so as to limit the downward movement of the yoke 19 and core 18 if desired. The head 24 carries a tube of brass or other non-magnetic material 26, which is surrounded by the winding 27, held in proper place as by means of the head 28. 29 is a winding carried by the spool having heads 3O, which spool is free to slide upon the tube 26 and is held in proper position as by means of bosses and screws 31. The coil 27 is of fine wire in shunt across the generator, as indicated, and may have its operation adjusted as by means of the resistance 32 in series therewith. The coil 29 is preferably of a course winding in series with the generator, as indicated, and may have its opera-' tion adjusted as by. means of the variable shunt 33. The positive generator lead 34, having in series therewith the coil 29, is connected as by means of'a flexible connector with oneof the contact members 21. The other contact member 21 is connected as by means of a flexible connector or pig-tail with the wire 35, which is carried to the positive side of the storage battery 36 and lamps or other translating devices. 37, the ne ative terminals of the translating devices an battery being connected with the lead 38, carried to the negative side of the enerator 1. 39 is a voltage responsive coi, shown in shunt across the generator mains, having in series therewith an adjustable resistance 44,

by means of which its 0 eration may be adjusted. When energize 39 tends to lift its core, shown in dotted lines at 40, which is provided at its upper extremity with a rod, preferably of non-magnetic material, indicated at 41, and at its lower extremity with a dash-pot, as indicated at 42. The dashpot may serve as a guide for the lower porthe rod 11, will all tend to compress the pile 3 in such manner as to reduce the resistance thereof to permit the generator field to build up at low speed, and the lamps or other translating devices 37, may be supplied in the usual manner by the battery 36. If the speed of the generator is appreciable, as for example, such that its voltage is in the neighborhood of its normal working voltage, coil 27 will be quite strongly energized in such manner as to cause a considerable attraction between the core 15 and the core 18, tending to cause the two cores to be drawn toward each other. And if the generator voltage is substantially equal to or slightly in excess of that of the storage battery, I so adjust the resistance 32 that at this point the exciation of coil 27 will cause the core 18 to approach the core 15 and thus lift the yoke 19 and bring the contact members 21 into contact with the member 22. Then current will flow from the positive brush ofthe generator through lead 34, solenoid 29, contact- 21-2221, and lead 35 to the storage battery and translatin devices, from which return is made throug 1 lead 38. And I so wind the solenoid 29 that this current from the generator will flow through the said solenoid in such direction that its magneto-motive force will be in the same direction as that of the solenoid 27 and the two windings may then act, under certain conditions, in a manner quite like a single coil, as will hereinafter more plainly appear. That is, I preferably so position the coil 27, which may be adjusted by means of bosses and screws 25, that the said coil when energized will tend to lift the core 18 and also draw core 15 downwardly. And, if the same were allowed to meet, the coil 27 would act upon the two cores as a single core tending to draw the same downwardly to increase the pressure upon the pile 3. And I so adjust the position of the core 15 with respect to the rod 11 that-the shoulder formed between the said rod and the portion 17 will allow the two cores to come together, or else separate them by an air gap of such dimensions as chosen; it being obvious that the core 15 may be adjusted with respect to the rod 11 by turning the sleeve 14, and that the same may be locked in any given position by means of jam nut 16. When the proper limit of approach of'the two cores has been adjusted in the above manner, I then adjust the position of the coil 29 and secure it in place, as by lugs and screws 31, so that when energized, this coil, together with coil 27, tends to lift the combined cores 15 and 18and raise the lever 6 to decrease the pressure upon the pile 3. I then so adjust the weight 8 and the resistance 33 that when the desired current is being delivered by the generator through solenoid 29, as may to some extent be modified by the action of coil 27, this maximum desired current will sufiiciently nearly balance the instrumentalities tending to compress pile 3 that this current value cannot be appreciably exceeded by the generator, as excess above this limit will raise the cores and rod 11 so as to decrease the pressure upon the pile 3 to prevent this excess from being exceeded and hold the generator output substantially constant throughout wide variations in speed. Of course, the

output may be modified by the effect of coil 27 in such manner that when the voltage across the battery is high, less current will be required in the coil 29 to operate the pile 3, and, therefore, the generator output will be held at a somewhat lower standard than when the battery voltage is low, which is a desired method of charging a storage battery. However, when operating as above, if at any time the voltage of the circuit across which coil 39 is placed, and in this instance across the generator, tends to rise above a predetermined limit, I so adjust the resistance 4: 1 that the solenoid 39 will raise its core 40 smoothly against the action of the dash-pot arrangement 42 and bring the rod 41 into contact with the lever 6 and prevent any appreciable excess in voltage above this predetermined limit by raising the lever 6 in such manner as to lessen the pressure upon the pile 3 and hold the generator voltage from exceeding this limit. If this limiting voltage is substantially that voltage necessary across the battery to force. a very small current therethrough when the said battery is in a substantially fully charged state, the solenoid 39 will not come into operation while the battery is being charged at or below its normal operating voltage. But, as the voltage of the battery rises, solenoid 39 will come into action, and then, as the voltage of the battery rises still further, the current thereto will naturally fall off and approach zero. And if there are no lamps or other translating devices in operation, a very small or even zero current. will be used from the generator, and the effect of the coil 29 may be very small and insufficient to materially affect the resistance 3, or very materially affect the magnetic relation of the cores 15 and 18. However, these cores will be drawn tightly together, or as near as the shoulder ofrod 11 will allow, by the action of coil 27, so long as\ the generator remains at "suin'cient voltage to supply any current to the battery or translating devices. If, however, the generator voltage falls until slightly belowthat of the battery, a slight back discharge throu h the coil 29 Wlll not only weaken the effect of coil- 27 and allow'the cores to separate, but when a sufiicient air gap is provided for in the adjustment of. the rod 11, this back discharge will actually reverse the polarity of the core 15 in such manner that actual repulsion will take place between the said cores, forcing them apart and promptly securing proper opening of the switch contact 212221 and breaking of the generator circuit and prevention of any deleterious back discharge.

From the foregoing it will be noted that my inventionproduces a system wherein there is provided. a main switch for connecting the generator and its work and wherein the instrumentalities used for operating the said switch cooperate to regulate the generator so that the same is regulated in a desired manner and that the pressure exerted upon the switch contacts, in order to secure sufficient pressure to insure good safe-carrying contacts of lar e capacity, is secured by the mutual attractlon of parts of the regulating apparatus, which mutual attraction is substantially independent of the attraction of the parts performing the regulating function, and that there is provided an arrangement whereby back discharge insures proper opening of the switch by a true repulsive action. And it will be further noted that the system is at all times so regulated that a certain predetermined voltagecannot be exceeded, and that this voltage operation of the system is not interfered with by the pressure exerted by the contacting switch members, even though their actuating means perform part of the regulating functions.

In the above description it has been assumed that the adjustments of the various parts are such that when the generator circuit is open, as for example when the generator is at rest, core 18 rests upon the insulating bushing to which is attached the member 22, as shown in the drawin and the heads of the rods 23 will not touc the magnet head 24, and the wei ht of core 18, member 19 and parts carrie thereby will be supported by the rod 11, and thus tend to compress the pile 3. However, it is within the scope of my invention to so adjust the pile 3; or adjust the position of the member 22 upon the rod 17 or other of the parts, that when the switch is open the heads of the rods 23 will engage the magnet head 24 so as to support the member 19 and core 18 and leave a clearance between the bushing of member 22 and the end of thecore 18. This will take the weight of core 18 and parts carried thereby off of the rod 17 so that the weight of these members. will not be useful in compressin the ile when the switch is 6'pen. Whi e, on t e other hand,

releasing of the core 18, or .even the repulsion thereof by the core 15, will not cause jarring of the pile, as the motion of the core 18 will be arrested by the members 23 instead of the bushing of the member 22, which arrangement is preferable under some conditions.

I do not wish in an way to limit myself to any of the exact etails given above to portray one embodiment of my invention, as considerable variation may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, which is as set forth in the following claims:

What I claim is:

1. Means for regulating a generator and controlling a circuit comprehending current responsive means, voltage responsive means, means wherebythe coaction between said responsive means controls the circuit, means whereby concerted action of said means controls the generator, and independently responsive means for dominating in the control of the generator in response to voltage fluctuations above a predetermined value only.

2. Means for regulating a generator and controlling. a circuit comprehending a current responsive coil, a voltage responsive coil, means whereby the coaction between said coils controls the circuit, means whereby the concerted action of said coils controls the generator, and independent responsive means for operating the controlling means to regulate the generator in response to fluctuations above a predetermined value only.

3. Means for regulating a generator and controlling a circuit comprehending a current responsive coil, a voltage responsive coil,

.means whereby the coaction between said coils controls t circuit, means whereby the concerted actionof said coils controls the generator, and independent responsive means for dominating the joint effect of said coils in the regulation of the generator in response to voltage fluctuations above a predetermined value only.

4. The combination with a generator and its circuit, of regulating means for the generator, a switch controlling said circuit comprehending a voltage responsive closing means, current responsive repelling means for opening the same, and means whereby the joint action of said responsive means affects the regulating means independently of the operation of said switch combined with voltage responsive means affecting the regulating means in response to fluctuations above a predetermined value only.

5. Means for regulating a generator and controlling a circuit comprehending current responsive means, voltage responsive means, means whereby the coaction between said responsive means controls the circuit, means whereby the concerted action of said coils controls the generator, and independent means responsive to a function of the activity of the generator for usurping control of the generator.

6. In an electric system, the combination with automatic voltage regulating means affecting the system, circuit closing means, means for operating the same, and current responsive means cooperating with said operating means in certain operations of the closing means, of means whereby the operating means and the responsive means regulate an electric circuit to aflect said system independently of the automatic regulating means.

7. The combination with a generator, regulating means and circuit closing means, of operating means for the circuit closing means, current responsive means acting thereupon to control a circuit combined with means whereby the responsive means and operating means cooperate to affect the regulating means without affecting the circuit closing means combined with independent voltage responsive means for affecting the regulating means cooperating with the other responsive means to control the regulation of the generator to hold its voltage substantially constant when a predetermined limit is reached.

8. The combination with a generator and a circuit supplied thereby, of means for controlling said circuit, operating means therefor comprehending a plurality of cores and a plurality of responsive means affecting said cores so arranged that the attraction between said cores controls the circuit and the effect of the responsive means on a plurality of said cores moves the same to affect the operation of the generator.

9. The combination with a generator, a

circuit supplied thereby and a switch controlling said circuit, of a plurality of cores the mutual attraction of which controls said switch, voltageiresponsive means for causlng said cores to attract each other, current responsive means increasing the attraction of said cores under certain conditions and under other predetermined conditions causing repulsion therebetween, and means whereby the joint. action of said responsive means upon said cores by. moving the same affects the operation of the generator.

10. The combination with a generator, a circuit supplied thereby and a switch controlling said circuit, of a plurality of magnetic members the' mutual attraction of which closes said circuit, voltage responsive means for causing said members to attract each other, current responsive means increasing the attraction of said members and, under certain conditions, causing repulsion therebetween, means whereby the joint atmamas traction caused by said responsive means upon said members affects the operation of the generator, and independent responsive means cooperating therewith to usurp the regulation of the generator when its voltage increases to a certain predetermined limit and capable of alone regulating the generator in case of failure of the other responsive means and independently of the operation of said switch.

11. The combination with a generator, a circuit supplied thereby and a battery receiving current from said circuit, of means for automatically controlling said circuit responsive to fluctuations in generator voltage-and battery charging and discharging current combined with means whereby said circuit controlling means regulates the opertion of the generator and independent responsive means cooperating with the afiecting means to regulate the generator and, upon predetermined rise in generator voltage, usurping substantially the entire regulation of the generator.

12. The combination with a generator, a circuitsupplied thereby, a battery receiving current from said circuit and a switch controlling the connection of the generator with said circuit, of means for closin said switch when the generator voltage reaches a predetermined value, a regulator for the generator, means whereby current from the generator assists in holding the switch closed and cooperates with the closing means to regulate the generator, said cooperating means 1 being adapted to cooperate with the closing means to open said switch under the influence of battery discharge current, the arrangement of the closing and cooperating means being such that the closing means is 105 is incapable of decreasing the generator output regardless of the voltage of the same except in cooperation with the said cooper- 'ating means.

13. The combination with a generator, a circuit supplied thereby, a battery receiving current from said circuit and a switch controlling the connection of the generator withsaid circuit, of means for closing said switch when the generator voltage reaches a predetermined limit, a regulator for the generator, means whereby current from the generator assists in holding the switch closed and cooperates with the closing means to regulate the generator, said cooperating means being adapted to cooperate with the closing means to open said switch pnder the influence of battery discharge current, the arrangement of the closing and cooperating means being such that the closing means is incapable of 12:. decreasing the generator output regardless of-the voltage of the same except in cooperation with the said cooperating means, and independent voltage responsive means adapted to control the regulating means under predetermined conditions regardless of the operation of the switch.

14. The combination with a generator and a regulating device for controlling the operation thereof, of means for controlling said device comprehending voltage responsive means tending to increase the output of the generator, current responsive means coo erating therewith and causing the united e ort of the responsive means to tend to cut down the generator output.

15. The combination with a enerator and a regulating device for control ing the operation thereof, of means for controlling said device comprehending voltage responsive means tending to increase the output of the generator, current responsive means cooperating therewith and causing the united eifort of the responsive means to tend to cut down the generator output, and switch mechanism controlling the connection of the generator operated by said responsive means.-

16. The combination with a generator and a regulating device for controlling the operation thereof, of means for controlling said device comprehending voltage responsive means tending to increase the output of the generator, current responsive means cooperating therewith and causing the united effort of the responsive means to tend to. cut down the generator output, and switch mechanism controlling the connection of the generator operated by said responsive means combined with independent responsive means capable of operating the regulating device regardless of the operation of said switch.

17. The combination with a variable speed generator, a circuit supplied thereby, a storage battery receiving current from said c1rcuit and a switch controlling the circuit, of means for closing the switch when the generator voltage reaches a predetermined value, a regulator for the generator which the closing means tends to inconsequentially affect alone, means cooperating with the closing means whereby they add their efforts to affect the regulator to regulate the enerator and, while so co-operating, the c osmg means materially affects the regulation of the generator.

18. The combination with a variable speed generator, a circuit supplied thereby, a storage battery receiving current from said circuit and a switch controlling the circuit, of means for closing the switch when the generator voltage reaches a predeterminedlimit, a regulator for the generator afiected inconsequentially by said closing means alone, means cooperating with the closing means whereby they add their eflforts to affect the regulator to regulate the enerator and, while so cooperating, the closing means materially affects the regulation of the generator, and independent responsive means adapted to usurp the regulatlon of the generator and control the same in response to voltage fluctuations when the same take place above a predetermined standard below which said independent means is ineifective.

19. The combination with a variable speed dynamo, a circuit supplied thereby, a storage battery receiving current from said circuit, a regulator for the generator, a movable magnetic structure for operating said regulator, and voltage responsive means a ected by the generator and capable of alone inconsequentially affecting said mag netic structure to afl'ect the regulator, current responsive means afiected by the generator current cooperating with the voltage responsive means when the generator is supplying current to the battery and causing its magnetomotive force, together with that of the voltage responsive means, to additively affect the magnetic structure to regulate the generator so that when so operating the effect of the voltage responsive means is a material factor in the regulation of the generator.

20. The combination with a source of electrical potential diiference and a circuit receiving current therefrom, of means for controlling said circuit and also regulating said source including a device for effecting the circuit, means for operatin said device including a plurality of move le members and means for causing said members to attract each other and cause relative motion therebetween to affect said device and to move source of electrical potential difference.

21. The combination with a source of electrio potential difierence and a circuit receiving current therefrom, of means for controlling said circuit and also regulating said source includin a device for affecting the circuit, means f ir operating said device including a plurality of movable magnetic members and means for causing one of said members to move with respect to the other and thereby operate said device and causing said members, without changing their mutual positions, to affect said source.

22. The combination with a source of electrical potential difference and a circuit receiving current therefrom, of a device afiecting the circuit, operating means for said device including a plurality of movable magnetic members relative motion between which affects said device, means for energizing said members and causing relative motion therebetween and also causing said members to move as a unit without relative motion therebetween, and means whereby said motion as a unit affects the source of electrical potential difference.

23. The combination with a source of electrical potential difierence and a circuit receiving current therefrom, of means for controlling said circuit and a plurality of mag netically allected members arranged to afi'ect said means upon relative motion therebetween and to afiect the source when moved without changing their relative relationship.

24. The combination with a source of electrical potential difference and a circuit receiving current therefrom containing a counter-electromotive-forcc, of a switch controlling said circuit comprehending a plurality oi movable magnetic members motion between which operates said switch, a voltage coil affected by said source for energizing said members and causing relative motion therebetween to close said switch, and a current coil cooperating therewith to move said members as a unit to regulate the source when current flows from the source and to oppose the action of the voltage coil to open the switch when current flows in a reverse direction.

25. The combination with a source of electrical potential difference and a circuit deriving current therei'rom including a counter-e1ectromotive-force, of a device for controlling said circuit, operating means for said device including a plurality of magnet- Patent No. 1,671, 145.

respect to each other, and means whereby this afi'ecting of said members controls the source of electrical potential difference.

26. The combination with a generator, a circuit supplied thereby, means for affect ing said circuit, means for operating said afi'ecting means including a plurality of movable cores separated by an airgap and a plurality of coils on opposite sides of said ail-gap, of means whereby said coils regulate v the generator.

JOHN L. CREVELING.

CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION.

Granted May 29, 1928, to

JOHN L. CREVELING.

" It is hereby certified that the above numbered patent was erroneously issued to "Gould Coupler Company, Inc.", a Corporation of New York, whereas said patent should have been issued to "Simplex Equipment Company, Inc.", a Corporation of Delaware, said corporation being assignee by mesne assignments of the entire interest insaid invention, as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that'the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record otthe case in the Patent 0ft ice.

Signed and sealed this 31st day of July, A. D. 1928.

(Seal) M. J. Moore, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

